Attachment for cables of lift bridges



June 12, 1928.

W. G. WILLIAMS ATTACHMENT FOR CABLES OF LIFT BRIDGES Filed Feb. 1'7, 192'? \ibmi 2 Sheqts-Sheet 1 l W41. [Km/Ania.

June 12, 1928.

W. G.' WILLIAMS ATTACHMENT FOR CABLES OF LIFT BRIDGES 2 m R A t O m u S E Tr V t m W A 0 h T. G s r 2 M M L M 7 2 9 l l .m e F d O m 3 W i F MTTORNEY Patented June 12, 1928.

UNITED {STATES r r 1,673,383 PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM G. WILLIAMS, or rLUsHInG. new YORK, assrenon TO WADDELL& HARD- ESI'Y, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., a GOPARTNERSI-IIP CQMPRISING JOHN A. L. WADDELL SHORTRIDGE H ARDE S'IY.

ATTACHMENT FOR CABLES F LIFT BRIDGES.

Application filed February 17, 1927. Serial No. 168,968.

My invention aims to provide certain improvements in tl'iedirection of simplicity and efliciency in connecting lifting ropes to the lift spans of bridges and to similar apparatus.

The accompanying drawings illustrate embodiments of the invention.

Fig. 1 .is a side elevation of a lift bridge, omitting the parts which have no relation to w the present invention;

2 is a face elevation of one end of one of the lift girders which extend across the ends of the lift span;

Fig. 3 is a cross section of Fig. 2 on the 35 line.3---3;

F ig.- 4 is a horizontal section on the line H of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a horizontal'section on the line 55 of Fig. 2.

The figures illustrate the improved method of attachment of the ropes. which support the counterweights to one end of one of the lifting girders of the span. There are sixteen ropes shown. These will be repeated at the opposite side ofthe same girder, and a similar arrangement of thirty-two ropes will be provided for the girder at the opposite end of the span; each setting of sixteen ropes carrying one of the counter- Weights. The invention, however, may be adapted to groupsof a larger or smaller number of ropes as required by the circum-.

stances of the structure.

Referring to Figs. 2 and 3, specialrope sockets 1 are shown adapted to the ends of the several ropes 2. Each socket has a head 3 at its lower end to aid in gripping the sockets when assembling or adjusting the ropes. The ropes are attached in the sockets in any ordinary way. At the upper ends of the sockets are located shims 4for adjustmentof the lengthsof the ropes; the shims being circular and threaded on the ropes before attachment of the sockets, in which case excess shims might afterwards be wired to the ropes, or they may be made in the form of slotted or U-shaped washers which can be inserted or withdrawn more easily. Keys 5, Fig. 3, may be added at top and bottom of the shims to maintain them in correct position.

In Fig. 3 the upper parts of the ropes 2 are shown in full lines in the angular posibetween which the span 8 rises and falls.

The ropes which are to pass to opposite sides of the lift girder 9 are spread into two groups of eight each by. a spreader 10 which is SUPPOltQClUH the top flange or plate 11 of the girder. Of the, eight ropes on each side, a group of four alternately spaced termin-ates at about the centre of the depth of the girder, and the other group of four eX- tends to a point below the bottom flanges or plate 12 of the girder. By this means the eight ropes are brought so close together as to leave only sufiicientspace between them as they lead up to the sheave, for the eight ropes leading up fromv the opposite side of the girder. 1

The upper ends of the sockets of the shorter ropes bear against the undersides of plates 13 supported on the undersides of angles 14 which are riveted to the web of the girder and which in turn are braced in the vertical direction by stitfeners 15 in the form of angles (Fig. 5) also riveted to the Web of the girder. The bearing plates 13 at the opposite sides of the girder may be made in one piece and passed through a slot in the web 9 of the girder; but the arrangen'ient shown in Fig. 3 is preferable in which a separate plate ltfi is used on either side of the web and the opposite plates are united by bolts 16 extending through from side to side and calculated to distribute the loads evenly on the angles and stiffener-s at the two sides of the Web. I

The longer ropes have sockets 1 with heads 3 and carry shims 4 and keys 5 similar to those of the shorter ropes. The shims bear on the lower flange 12 of the girder, preferably through the inter-mediation of a reinforced gusset 17 (Fig. 4) attached to the underside of the flange. The flange 12 in turn bears through angles 18 against vertical stiifeners 19 which transfer the load to the web of the girder.

To allow the assembly of the ropes as illustrated the flanges 11 and 12 at the top and bottom of the girder, the angles 13 and 18, the gussets 17 and the spreader block 10 are provided with slots which permit the ropes to be entered from the sides of the lifting girder and pushed into place as close as possible to the web. The slots in the gussets, however, do not have to extend to the outer edges but are extended only sutticiently to form holes 20 which are of sufficient size to permit the passage of the rope sockets 1 as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 4. The ropes are held in their respective slots by keepers or bars 21, Figs. 2 and 3, bolted to the spreader block 10. Similar keepers may be provided over the rope sockets or the ropes at other points if desired.

With the method of connection described, we may practically eliminate any transverse leads from the ropes to the bridge structure as they lead downward from thesheaves, the maximum distance for any one rope from the centre of the lifting girder being about one-half the center to center distance of the rope grooves on the sheave 6. The ropes can be quickly and efiiciently adjusted or replaced. The height to which the span can be raised is not restricted except by the clearance requirements of the structure; that is, it is not limited by any transverse lead of the ropes.

Many modifications and rear 'angements of the parts shown may be made. The connections described may be adopted for ropes which lead to the counterweights, as shown or for ropes which serve to lift the span in other ways, and the improvements may be applied wherever it is desired to connect lifting ropes to similar structures.

Various other modifications'may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the invention as defined in the following claims.

. \Vhat I claim is:

1. A lift bridge including in combination a girder extending transversely of the span and lifting ropes leading upward therefrom and located respectively on opposite sides of the girder.

2. A lift bridge including in combination a lift girder, a plurality of ropes operatively engaging the same, and a spreader on top of the girder for directing said ropes respectively to either side oi. the girder, the ropes converging upward above the spreader and being substantially parallel below it.

A lil't bridge including in combination a lift girder, a plurality of lifting ropes operatively engaging the same, a first group of said ropes engaging the girder at one level and a second group located between and parallel and close to those of the first group and engaging the girder at a lower level.

i. A lii't bridge including in combination a lift girder, a plurality of lifting ropes opcrat'ively engaging the same, a first group of said ropes engaging the girder at about the middle of its height and a second group located between and parallel and close to those of the first group and engaging the girder at about its lower edge.

5. A lift. bridge including in combination a lift girder, extending transversely of the span and lifting ropes on opposite sides of the girder, the ropes on each side being in two groups olf alternate ropes engaging the girder at difierent levels.

(3. A lift bridge including in combination a lift girder, plates fastened to the opposite sides of tile girder, a plurality of ropes in two groups at opposite sides of the girder and engaging said plates, the plates at one side of the girder being united to those at the other side to balance the strains at the two sides.

7. A lift bridge including in combination a lift girder, a plurality of ropes operatively engaging the same, and a gus et extending horizontally across the bottom of the girder and engaged by said ropes.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto signed my name.

WILLIAM G. WILLIAMS. 

